Vending machine



June 26, 1951 J. E. STEWART 2,558,394

VENDING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JflMEs.E. 515M021 BY .d-uw

. ATTORNEY.

Patented June 26, 1951 vannmc momma James E. Stewart, Rye, N. Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cleveland-Detroit Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Original application June 16. 1943, Serial No.490,995, now Patent No. 2,423,265, dated July 1, 1947. Divided and thisapplication March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,370

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines and is adivision of United States application Serial No.490,995, filed June 16,1943, now Patent No. 2,423,265, dated July 1, 1947.

In said patent, the claims are directed to the arrangement of thearticle supporting shelves, the guide means for the articles, and afixed central vertical shaft supporting the shelves, and spring meansfor urging the shelves rotatively.

In the present application, the claims are all limited to structuralfeatures of the article delivery rotor and associated structure in acabinet of the character hereafter described.

An object of the invention is the provision of a vending machine havinga refrigerator cabinet and a plurality of rotary shelves therein, meansassociated with each shelf for urging it in a predetermined direction,stationary means associated with each shelf for guiding the bottles orwares thereon toward a delivery point, and coincontrolled means for eachshelf for effecting the delivery one at a time therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of individual deliverymeans for each shelf, coin mechanism adapted to render some of saiddelivery means operable when it receives coins of one value, and adaptedto render others of said delivery means operable when it receives coinsof a difierent value, and means common to all said delivery means andactuated by an operating delivery means for looking all the othersagainst movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a refrigeratingmachine for drinks, of delivery means for effecting the delivery ofdrinks therefrom with a minimum loss of refrigeration.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision, in a vendingmachine for drinks, of delivery mechanism for delivering drinkstherefrom, said mechanism being adapted to illuminatedly display thekind of' drink delivered thereby. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a study of the following specification and theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of my newand improved drink bottles or containers on a shelf and the means forurging said containers towards the delivery mechanism, one containerhaving been engaged by the delivery mechanism and ready to be delivered;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure -3 in which thedelivery mechanism has been operated and the delivered container may bepicked up by the customer;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the delivery mechanism showing onerotor as just having received the end container from its associatedshelf, and showing the rotor of the tier below it in the position withits article cavity and the article therein outside the cabinet;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of price bar mechanism for controlling theoperability of the several delivery mechanisms;

Figure 7 is a face view of the machine shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the mechanism shown in Figures 6 and '7;

Figure 9 isa cross-sectional view of the mechanism of Figures 6, 7, and8 as seen along the line 9-9 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of my lockout bars;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of my price bar cams;

Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 show price bar cams of different values, theengaging lug being in different positions on each cam; 1

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of delivery door; andc Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary view of the lower end of the price barmechanism with the cover removed and showing a positionable,, membermoved by a coin mechanism in accordance with the value of money receivedby the coin mechanism.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism is enclosed in atubular casing 2|, the lower portion 2| of which may be used forstorage, and which may also contain the coin box (not shown) foraccepted coins after they leave the coin mechanism. The upper portion 22of the casing may decorative effects.

A plate 25 on the wall of the cabinet has a slot 26 therein forreceiving coins, and this slot communicates, through suitable conduits,with coin mechanism (not shown) adapted to receive single or pluralcoins and control a positionable member in accordance with the value ofthe coin or coins deposited, as will hereinafter be described.

Within the cabinet 20, near the upper end thereof is secured a spiderring 21,- the hub 21a of which forms a rigid support for the upper endof a shaft '28. A second spider ring 29 secured within the lowerportionof the inner cabinet wall 32 hasa hub which engages and steadies thelower portion of the shaft 28, and an extension 38 of this shaft mayextend through the lower portion (or compartment) 2| to the base 3| ofthe machine.

The shaft 28 (although shown as round in cross-section) may be of anydesired cross-section, and the shaft carries a headed stud 33, similarto the headed stud 33b shown in Fig. 5, the head of which is engaged bythe apertured inner end of a spiral spring 34 which is housed in aninverted drum-like member 35, having a hole 36 therein forming a bearingon the shaft 28. The outer end of the spiral spring may be secured tothe wall of the drum-like member 35 by means of a bolt 31. The shaft 28is stationary and may be rigidly secured in the cabinet 28 in anysuitable manner. For example, one way of rigidly securing the shaft inthe cabinet is the provision of a bushing in the floor of the cabinetand securing the lower end of the shaft in said bushing by a key or pin.The upper end of the shaft 28 is fixed to the spider 21, and between vthe top and bottom of the cabinet the shaft is fixed to the spider 29.

At flat disc 38, which is preferably perforate, is secured to the springdrum 35 and is supported on a suitable bushing 38 which has a holetherein engaging the shaft 28 and supported by a thrust bearing like 4|to be presently described. The disc 38 forms a rotary shelf forsupporting articles to be vended and is of a diameter clearing the innersurface of the inner wall 32.

Beneath the disc 38 is a disc-like member 48 having a flanged rim whichis secured to the inner wall 32 in any suitable manner, for example byriveting, spot welding, etc. The mid-portion of the member is cuppeddownwardly, as shown, to accommodate a thrust bearing 4| supporting thebushing 39 and the flat disc or turntable 38.

The thrust bearing 41b, which is exactly like the.

thrust bearing 4|, is shown enlarged in Figure and consists of a lowerdisc having an annular race formed on the upper surface thereof. Thisdisc has a hole formed therein to clear the shaft- 28, and its outerdiameter is such that it forms a press fit with the depression formed inthe flanged disc member 4812. The thrust bearing has an upper disc-likeportion with a downwardly Beneath and spaced apart from theturntable 88is a turntable 38a provided with a like spiral spring housed in a drum35a. A thrust bearing 4la for the turntable 38a is supported by acuplike cavity formed in the spider ring 28.

Above and spaced apart from the turntable 38 are several otherturntables designated as 38b,

38c, 38d, 38c and 38!, supported respectively on thrust bearings Mb, 0,4ld, He and 4|}, supported in downwardly cupped mid-portions of flangeddisc-like members 48b, 480,.40d, 48c and 48 like the member 48. Theseturntables, like the turntable 38, are provided respectively with springdrums 35b, 35c, 3511, 35c and 35 Secured to the lower surface of theflanged disc-like member 40b is a spiral strip 42 extending verticallydownward and having a portion at right angles thereto spot welded orattached in any other suitable manner to the member 48?). The downwardlyextending portion of the spiral strip 42 amply clears the upper surfaceof the turntable 38.

Referring to Figure 3, the outer end 42m of the spiral strip 42 issubstantially tangent to the inner wall 32 (opposite the deliveryopening to be presently described). The inner end 420 at a pointadjacent to the spring drum 35 terminates in an almost right angledportion 43 which is secured to the convolution of the spiral designatedby the numeral 421'.

It was pointed out above that the member 481) is welded or otherwisestationarily secured to the inner wall 32, therefore the spiral 42 isalso stationary.

Assuming the shelf 38 to be empty and it is desired to reload it, theserviceman opens a hinged section of the wall 32, exposing a portion ofthe shelf outside the outer convolution of the spiral, and places aplurality of mechandise containers 44 thereon. He then rotates the shelf38 in a direction shown by the dotted arrows; this moves the containers44 around the spiral and at the same time winds the spring 34. As soonas the first plurality of containers are moved in by so rotating theshelf, exposing a second portion of the shelf, the serviceman can placeadditional containers thereon. The serviceman continues to move theshelf in the direction of the dotted arrows, placing additionalcontainers thereon until the first or end container, which he placed onthe shelf, comes to rest against the right angled portion (or innerend)'43 of the spiral and a continuous series of containers extendstherefrom, about the convolutions of the spiral, to the delivery exit45. The act of turning the shelf in the direction of the dotted arrowsnot only distributed the containers around in the spiral as justdescribed, but also effected the winding of the spring 34.

With the shelf 38 full and-with the spring 34 fully wound, the latterconstantly urges the shelf in the direction of the solid arrows andinsures the successive delivery of each and everyone of the containerson the shelf 38 to the delivery exit 45.

A similar spiral 42a secured to the bottom of the member 40 cooperateswith containers 44a on the shelf 38a. The height of the spiral is ofcourse greater, as the space between the shelf 38 and the shelf 38a isgreater, and as pointed out above, the spiral extends downwardly fromits support and amply clears the shelf below.

Likewise, spirals 42b, 42c, 42d, Me, and 42f, respectively, secured toand extending downwardly from stationary members 40c, 48d, 48e, 40 andvided with a closure top 46, which may be secured thereto in anysuitable manner. 7

The delivery mechanism, generally referred to by the numeral 45,consists of a generally round section, Figures 4 and 5, with a centralvertical hole 41 therein which is journaled on a hollow shaft 48. Agenerally U-shaped cavity 49 is formed in this round section without topor bottom walls. The end container 50, due to the urge of the rotaryshelf 38, and the action of the spiral 42, enters the cavity 49 andcontinues to rest on the shelf 38 until the delivery mechanism isoperated, as. will presently be described.

A second cavity 52 is formed in the delivery mechanism, the sides 53 and54 of which are angular, with respect to each other, greater than 90,and this cavity may be termed a display niche. It also has a bottomwall, and a top wall which are identical with the bottom Wall 55b andthe top wall 582) of the cross-sectioned delivery mechanism just abovethe mechanism 45.

Within the display niche are lamps 51 and 58, which are preferablytubular in form, for illuminatedly displaying the sample container 60. Acurved panel 59 of glass or transparent plastic is removably secured tothe. delivery exit body, in any suitable manner, for enclosing the sam--ple container 88 and the lamps 51 and 58. A knob BI is secured theretofor rotating the delivering mechanism body, as will presently bedescribed.

Beneath the bottom wall of the delivery mechanism- 45 is a circularplaten 63, which may have formed integral therewith an arcuate cam 62 ofa predetermined length. This cam cooperates with release bar cams in amanner to be presently described.

A bushing 64 forms a working fit on the shaft 48 and has a polygonalshank which fits aligned matching polygonal holes formed in the platen63 and in the lower end of the hole 41, with the result that when thedelivery mechanism is rotated to deliver an end container (50, forexample) to the customer, by moving the knob 5| around to the positionshown in Figure 4, the container, which at the beginning of theoperation was positioned in the cavity 49 and resting on shelf 38, is bythis movement, slid off the shelf 38 and onto the platen 63 (while stillpositioned in the cavity 49). When the knob 5| reaches the positionshown in Figure 4, the container 50 is in front and may be picked up bythe customer.

As soon as the delivery mechanism is returned to its normal position,which is the position shown in Figure 3, the succeeding container, dueto rotative urge of the spring 34 on the shelf 38, as described above,passes into the cavity 49 and is ready to be delivered when the deliverymechanism is again turned to the left. Due to the presence of the fixedspiral 42, this action may continue until the last container on theshelf 38 is delivered.

The other delivery mechanisms 45 associated with the other shelves aresubstantially the same (except for height) and they all operate in thesame manner, therefore they are given the same numerals as the onedescribed above with an additional letter corresponding to that of theshelf with which the delivery mechanism is associated. For example, theparts of the delivery mechanism associated with the shelf 38a have theletter "a added to the numeral, etc.

A modified form of the delivery mechanism 451: is shown in Figure 16,wherein the rotative portion consists of a solid cylinder having asingle open ended cavity 493: formed therein, and the illuminateddisplay niche is eliminated. The wall portion 65 may, if'desired, carrydecorative effects. A knob Gla: is provided for rotating the deliverymechanism, and an arcuate cam lip 62m is provided for determiningwhether or not said mechanism may be rotated, as will be hereinafterexplained.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 12, inclusive, and 17, a stepped barmember 66 has a comparatively shallow channel 61, and a deeper channel68 (Figure 9) formed therein. The channel 61 lies between longitudinalwalls 69 and I0, and the longitudinal walls 10 and H define the channel88. Lateral aligned slots l2, l3, and 14 (Figure 8) are formedrespectively in the walls 89, 10, and II. In Figures 6 and 7, a set ofsimilar slots are shown at 12a, l3a,and 14a, below the slots l2, l3, and14, a distance equal to the distance between the cam lip 62 and the camlip 62a (Figure 2).-

Other sets of slots 12!), 13b and 14b; 12c, 13c, and Mo, etc., areprovided to receive the cam lips 62b, 520, etc.

The stepped bar member 66 is positioned vertically with the slots abovereferred to in position where the cam 62, 62a, 82b, 820, etc., may enterthem. This position may best be seen in Fi 3.

Within the channel 81 is a plurality of bars 15 having beveled ends 16and 11 (Figure 10) These bars are of lengths corresponding to thedistances between the cam lips 82, 62a, 82b, 820, etc., and are soproportioned that when any one cam lip is positioned between theadjacent ends of any two bars, the entire length of the channel isfilled up and no other cam lip can enter between any of the other bars15. The beveled ends facilitate the entrance of a cam lip between theadjacent ends of the two bars with which it cooperates (when no othercam lip is between any other bars).

Within the channel 88 are price bars I8, 19, 80, 8 I ,and 82, the lowerends of which terminate adjacent to a cross-slot 83 (Figure 17) formedin the lateral extension 66a of the bar member 66 at the bottom of, andat a right angle to, the channel 68. A positionable bar member 84 ismounted in the slot 83 and has a slot 85 formed therein which isnormally beneath the lower end of the wall H. The positionable barmember 84 may be connected to a suitable coin mechanism (not shown)which positions the member 84 in accordance with the value of the moneyinserted. For example, if 5 is inserted, the coin mechanism 'would movethe member to bring its slot 85 below the price bar 82; 10 would causethe slot to align with the price bar 8|; 15 would align it with pricebar 20 would align it with price bar 18; and 25 would align it with theprice bar 18.

The price bars 18 to 82, inclusive, are urged upwardly by spring means(not shown), and the lower ends thereof clear the positional member by afew thousandths of an inch permitting it to be moved freely by the coinmechanism. It is said slot. It is also obvious that none of the otherpricebars can be moved down because they would encounter solid portionsof the positionable member.

The price bars all have slots formed therein, spaced to correspond tothe distances between the cam lips'62, 82a, 62b, 620, etc. (Figure 2).It

will be noted in Figure 8, that these slots are staggered to preventinterference, slots 86, 88, and'99, in bars 18, 89, and 82 beingaligned, and slots 8'| and 89, in bars 19 and 8| being out of alignmentwith slots 85, 88, and 99, but in alignment with each other.

Referring now to Figure '11, a removable key 9| is shown. It consists ofa rectangular block 92 having a beveled face 93 'formedthereon, andintegral with and extending rearwardly from the block is a rectangulartongue 94. This tongue is positioned on the vertical center line of theblock and is therefore adapted to be positioned in any slot 88 in theprice bar 89 (described above as the 15 bar). If more than one shelf inthe vending machine carried 15 merchandise, the

same number of keys 9| may be placed in enagement with correspondingslots in the 15 price bar 89. One is shown in Figure 8 positionedbetween-the wall slots 13a and 14a.

In Figures 6 and 7, the positionable member 84 is shown with its slot 85below the price bar 89, due to the fact that 15 was inserted in themachine. The cam lip 82a (on the bottom delivery mechanism, as thelatter is turned) enters the slot 12a and first engages the beveledsurfaces of the adjacent bars 15, cams them apart and passes betweenthem-thus locking out all of the other cam lips. As the deliverymechanism is rotated further, the cam lip 62a engages the beveled face93 of the key 9|, and forces the price bar 89, with which the key 9| isassociated, downwardly and causesthe lower end of the price bar 89 toenter the slot '85 in the positionable member 84. The delivery mechanismis turned further until the cavity 49 containing the merchandise isaccessible, and the customer may remove the same. It will also be notedthat a key 9| is associated with the delivery mechanism carrying the camlip 62c, therefore if the purchaser, after depositing'15, decided tochoose that merchandise, he could obtain it by operating that deliverymechanism in the same manner.

In Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 are shown other keys to be associated withother price bars Figure 12 shows key 95 having a beveled face 96,

rectangular boss I 89, positioned to engage only notches 98 in the pricebar 82. Figure 14 shows key l0! in this group having a beveled face I02and a rectangular boss I93, adapted to engage only notches 89 in theprice bar 8|. Figure shows key I04 having a beveled. face I95 and arectangular boss I96 adapted only to engage notches 81 in the price bar19.

With the above described keys 9|, 95, 98, IBI and I04, several pricedshelves of merchandise may be carried in the machine and the price barsmay be keyed up in accordance with the prices. The keys are positionedin the channel 88, above the price bars as seen in Figure 9, and areretained therein by removable cover plates I01, which also retain thebars 15 therein. I Although I have shown and described my new andimproved vending machine as vending drinks in containers or bottles, itmust be understood that the machine will vend liquids or any other kindsof commodities packaged in any desired manner, and I intend to use themachine for vending said commodities.

It will also be understood that many changes may be made in thearrangements shown and tie-- scribed without departing from the scope-ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

g 1. Articledelivery meansfor an article vending machine having acabinet provided with a side wall opening and also having coincontrollei mechanism arranged withinsaid cabinet, said article deliverymeans comprising a drum-like member for rotatable disposition in theside wall opening of said cabinet, with said member being partiallyinside and partially outside said cabinet, said drum-like member beingprovided with a cavitywhich when it is located within the cabinet isadapted to receive an article to be vended and which, upon rotarymovement of said drum-like member in one direction, is adapted to bringsuch cavity, and hence the article therein, to the outside of thecabinet, and a platelike element located below and movable with saiddrum-like member and providing a support for the article in the cavityof said drum-like memher when such member is being rotated to bring saidcavity from a position inside the cabinet to a position outside thecabinet, said plate-like element being provided with cam means forcooperation with the coin controlled mechanism of the machine forcontrolling the rotation of said drum-like member in the direction tobring its cavity from a position inside the cabinet to a positionoutside the cabinet.

2. Article delivery means for an article vending machine having acabinet provided with a side wall opening and also having an articlesupporting shelf within said cabinet and adjacent said opening, saidarticle delivery means comprising a drum-like member and a disc-likemember, said drum-like member being provided with an article receivingcavity of generally U-shapei cross section extending inwardly from theside wall of such member and said cavity being open at its bottom, saiddisc-like member being below and spaced from said drum-like member andproviding a support for an article in the cavity of said drum-likemember, said drum-like member and .said'disc-like member being adaptedto be rotatably mounted in the side wall opening of the cabinet, withsuch members partially inside and partially outside the cabinet, thespace between said drum-like member and'said disc-like member permittingthe marginal portion of sail shelf to be disposed between those parts ofsuch members which are within the cabinet and to serve as a support foran article in the cavity of said drum-like member when such cavity. isinside the cabinet, the article in such cavity moving from said marginalportion of the shelf onto said disc-like member as the drum-like memberis rotated to bring its cavity from the inside of the cabinet to theoutside of the cabinet.

3. Article delivery means for an article vending; machine having acabinet provided with a side wall opening, said article delivery meanscomprising a drum-like member having a hollow shaft extending axiallytherethrough, said member being adapted to be rotatably mounted in theside wall opening of said cabinet, with substantially one-half of saidmember inside the cabinet and substantially one-half of said memberoutside the cabinet, said member being provided with two diametricallyopposed cavities, one for the reception of an article to be vended, theother for the reception of an article to be displayed, the diametricdisposition of said cavities enabling the display cavity to be locatedoutside the cabinet when the other cavity is inside the cabinet forarticle-receiving purposes, electric illuminating means in said displaycavity,

10 and current carrying wires for said illuminating means extendingthrough the hollow shaft with which the drum-like member is provided.

JAMES E. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 1 file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,820,671 McCormick et al. Aug.25, 1931 2,348,927 Runsvold et a1 May 16, 1944 2,423,265 Stewart July 1-1947

